How many do but don't plan there trip.

[Mongomil]

We do tons of research and know basically what we want to do. I stalk the forums and use them to learn, but when it comes to booking ADRs or most other reservation we just wing it. I did actually book a hair cut and the Pirate Cruise for the boy other than that nothing. We will be going for 12 days and always use hopper passes. The last trip was in 2011 so we don't make it often we just take what comes to us. So how many other do but don'ters are there?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Not us. We dont leave anything to chance especially since its gotten more crowded and the chances of getting what you want when you arrive is less. We plan and reserve. I'd rather lock things in guaranteeing what I want rather than be disappointed. Things have changed since 2011, depending on when your trip is, you may have less options winging it.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

When are you going? 12 days is a long time to take it easy and do ALL the things you want to do... However, why not just plan your fastpasses... I suggest planning morning fastpasses half the time... Maybe every other day, that way you will at least be able to do the things you really want to do without waiting in line.

On the other hand, I do not plan meals out like that. I don't want to feel rushed back to a park bc I have a meal planned... I definitely don't like being rushed, but I know that we'll be in the parks in the am and early enough so that I can plan fastpasses based on our wants.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

You can find out park hours and the firework and parade times in advance (subject to slight changes) so you can plan out a schedule based on that. Once the parks are settled you know where you're going to be at meal times. The menus are readily available to view. You don't need to book your specific meal 180 days in advance, just where you want to eat, based upon the menu choices available. It always works for us.
As @JIMINYCR said - it's too busy to leave anything to chance

 

[PinnySmart]

You should at least plan your fastpasses. It's absolutely silly to go all the way to WDW for 12 days and not at least schedule your fastpass+ selections.

 

[KikoKea]

Agreed about the fast passes- unless you don't mind lines or have little interest in riding. With ADRs we've gotten to where we only make 1 per trip, if any, and just use QS. We just got tired of paying $$$ for food that was so-so in a crowded, noisy restaurant. (Our exception is Akershus where we actually enjoy the food) We do plan which park on which days to take advantage of EMHs and late closings.

But, if you enjoy winging it- that's great!

 

[JasonDeyoung]

Only thing I really do is look up park hours and book my fp. Everything else i pick along the way

 

[wendysue]

When are you going? 12 days is a long time to take it easy and do ALL the things you want to do... However, why not just plan your fastpasses... I suggest planning morning fastpasses half the time... Maybe every other day, that way you will at least be able to do the things you really want to do without waiting in line.

On the other hand, I do not plan meals out like that. I don't want to feel rushed back to a park bc I have a meal planned... I definitely don't like being rushed, but I know that we'll be in the parks in the am and early enough so that I can plan fastpasses based on our wants.

We don't plan much except Fast Passes and even then, if something else comes up that we want to do, we might blow them off as well. (We might want to drink beer at the pool at our resort instead of being herded around MK) We will have a rental car this time, so we plan on eating most of our meals offsite. We can usually eat 2-3 meals anywhere offsite for the price of one at WDW.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

We don't plan much except Fast Passes and even then, if something else comes up that we want to do, we might blow them off as well. (We might want to drink beer at the pool at our resort instead of being herded around MK) We will have a rental car this time, so we plan on eating most of our meals offsite. We can usually eat 2-3 meals anywhere offsite for the price of one at WDW.

Sounds like it's all figured out then... hmmm fastpasses or boozing it up at the pool.... I'l take the booze too!! Lol I like that idea!

 

[TXDisney]

I found it incredibly hard to do things out last trip in December. My parents decided to book their timeshare off site just 6 weeks out and invited all of us, and all of us went (10 total, 8 adults, 2 infants) I purchased my wife and I's park tickets and flights right away. The pain was that the others weren't purchasing their tickets until arrival so I couldn't link them up. A few family members wanted to but if I couldn't get everyone to do it, it was pointless. The adr I did, to hold and see how the trip went and did cancel a few once there. But we still did a few nice dinners and all. It wasn't until our 2nd day I linked all of us up on my account and did fast passes and all for us. It worked out great still. Only ride we had to wait on a long line for was 7dwarves. My thinking is the more people going the harder it is to plan. Especially when it's multiple families. My wife and I have been plenty of times and had darn near every meal and fp planned and it is great. I will say this though my brother did see how much research I did and did everything I could to get us adr and fp, and as a thank you he hit me a beer stein in Germany knowing I collect them there. So it is rewarded.

 

[DarthVader]

but when it comes to booking ADRs or most other reservation we just wing it.

Funny story, I was in WDW last November and as we were walking to the Scifi restaurant, a couple were talking with other folks (we were behind them) about how they never make reservations and just show up. They were proudly proclaiming how its really not needed and the longest they waited was 20 minutes (or something to that affect). Well, long story short we all arrive at the scifi, they get turned away because the wait was exceedingly long w/o reservations, and we popped in after a short wait.

While its true you can probably just wing it, stress, and best use of your time comes from planning - at least I think so. I'd rather have a reservation at 6:00, wait a short period of time, then wait an indeterminate amount of time, hoping it will be soon, and missing out on other activities because I'm sitting there waiting.

There was a time when you didn't need reservations, with the parks being quite full now a days, it can be an exercise in frustration.

 

[Danno0209]

We are going for 10 days this May. We were going to wing it as we've always done on past trips but decided to plan some just in case. We booked a few ADR's for restaurants we'd like to eat at, but if we cancel that's fine too. We aren't huge on having to dine at specific or fancy places and would be totally content with QS the whole trip. We also booked FP+ but only booked them for our favorite rides in the last 4 days of the trip. We figure this will allow us to use them if the lines are outrageous on the days we are in those parks earlier in the trip (kind of a back up plan) and it doesn't force us to go to certain parks on certain days. This was the plan we came up with to minimize having set in stone plans and leaving us very flexible throughout the trip. Hope this helps! Enjoy the planning and trip!